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Geologists use the Mohs scale to measure hardness. We think this quiz is most definitely a Mohs 10! Are you up to scratch or will you barely leave a dent?

 

#1. True or false? Minerals are the building blocks of rocks and geologists discover more than 50 new minerals each year.

True. But first, what’s a mineral? A mineral has a specific chemical formula with atoms arranged in a crystal pattern. For example, diamonds are minerals made of carbon atoms arranged in tetrahedrons (like the points of a pyramid). There are more than 6,000 known minerals and about 50–100 new ones are described each year.

#2. What kind of rock is made primarily from plants put under pressure for millions of years?

Coal is a sedimentary rock formed from layers of ancient plant matter, which is why it is called fossil fuel. It takes millions of years to make, meaning we use it faster than it can be made. This is why it is non-renewable. Coal is still used to make electricity and steel, releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

#3. Rock music can be really loud! Which of the following units measures loudness?

The decibel (dB) is named after Alexander Graham Bell, who invented the telephone. The lower limit of human hearing is 0dB, while 100 dB is a jack hammer from one metre away. Kelvin is a measure of temperature, the ohm is a measure of resistance in electricity, and the candela is a measure of brightness.

#4. How many rock-wallaby species are there?

Rock-wallaby is the common name for a genus of wallabies, which is unusually rich in species. Rock-wallabies often live in rocky, rugged terrain, which provides protection from predators. There are at least 17 species recognised.

#5. True or false? Geologists classify ice as a mineral.

True. Minerals are defined as inorganic (non-living) material arranged in a crystal structure. Ice is made of inorganic water molecules that form a crystal structure when they freeze. This means that geologists consider glaciers to be rocks!

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